South Korea orders review of military
Source: Agencies |
May 5, 2010, Wednesday
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PRESIDENT Lee Myung-bak ordered a thorough review of South Korea's military readiness yesterday, calling the sinking of a warship no "simple accident" as officials inched closer to blaming North Korea in the deadly incident.
Lee did not directly name wartime rival North Korea as a suspect in the March 26 disaster as he opened a historic meeting of top military commanders at the Defense Ministry. However, he made it clear for the first time that he considers the sinking of the Cheonan following an explosion in disputed waters near the Koreas' maritime border to be an incident linked to North Korea. The president also called North Korea "the most belligerent force" in the world.
"What is obvious so far is that the Cheonan did not sink due to a simple accident," he said. "As soon as the incident occurred, I sensed it was a grave international and inter-Korean matter."
The 1,200-ton Cheonan sank in the Yellow Sea after an explosion blew the frigate apart. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued, but 46 were killed. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young has said after an initial investigation that a torpedo appears the likely culprit.
Seoul has never directly blamed North Korea for the sinking, and Pyongyang has denied involvement. However, suspicion has focused on the North, given its history of provocations and attacks.
Lee did not directly name wartime rival North Korea as a suspect in the March 26 disaster as he opened a historic meeting of top military commanders at the Defense Ministry. However, he made it clear for the first time that he considers the sinking of the Cheonan following an explosion in disputed waters near the Koreas' maritime border to be an incident linked to North Korea. The president also called North Korea "the most belligerent force" in the world.
"What is obvious so far is that the Cheonan did not sink due to a simple accident," he said. "As soon as the incident occurred, I sensed it was a grave international and inter-Korean matter."
The 1,200-ton Cheonan sank in the Yellow Sea after an explosion blew the frigate apart. Fifty-eight sailors were rescued, but 46 were killed. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young has said after an initial investigation that a torpedo appears the likely culprit.
Seoul has never directly blamed North Korea for the sinking, and Pyongyang has denied involvement. However, suspicion has focused on the North, given its history of provocations and attacks.
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